, 1887-01-26

The Earl Of IddcSltigh, who is moro
widely known throughout the w0vld as the
Right Hon. Sir Stafford Henry N0rthcote,
Bart, under which title most Of his active
work as tiuancier and statesman was accom-.
pljShcd, was born in London Oct, 81, 1918.
He was the chief living representative of
an old Devonshire family, which has been
conspicuous in England for many genera.
tons. Sir Stafford was the eighth Baro.
net, and was educate | at BallioI College,
Oxford. In 1913 he married Miss Cecilia
Frances Farrer, daughter of a barriSter of
Lincoln]S Inn, be gan the study of law, and
four years later was admitted to the Bar
of the Inner remIIe.9 He Succeeded to the
BaronetGy on Tie death Of his grand father,
March II, 1851 and a few weeks later was
made Il Commander Of the, B ath, Civil Di-
vision, IN recognition of his services as
Secretary Of the great Industrial Exhibi-
ton Of 1851.
Sir Stafford NOrthcOte first entered Par
lament as a member for Dudley in 1865.
He was returned in the Conservative in
terpst, and was always afterwards identified
with that party. In 1859 he was returned
for the borough of Stamford, and %cOntinu-
ed torepreSent that constituency until May,
1866, when he was returned for North De
Won Dur.mg Mir. GladStOne'S Presidency of
the Board of Trade Sir Stafford acted az
his private secretary, and thus received an
ELI lent training in matters relating to fin
anc", which he afterwards turned to good
account. In 1866, when Lord Derby was
called for the third time to form a Minis
try, Sir Stafford was given q place as Pre-
RidemL Of the Bolrd of Trade. From March,
1867, to December, 1868, he was Secretary
of State for India, in which office he dis
tinguShed himself by aSsiduuus attention
to his duties. His efficiency contributed
largely to the success of the Abyssinian
expedition. He was a member of the Joint
High Commission on the Alabama Claims
i'll 1871 and one of the trainers Of the treaty
Of Washington, which was the result of the
labOrs of that board. When MIR. DiSraeli
formed his Cabinetin February, 1874, Sir
Stafford was made Chancellor Of tho Ex-
chequer, and in August, 1870, when Mr..
DiSraeli became Earl of BeacOnSfield, Sir
Stafford became his successor as the adj
ministratiOn leader of the House of Com
mons.
Sir Stafford voiced the sentiments Of the
government uDtll 1900, Wllell MT. Gldu-
stone again came into power. Then he be
anne leader Of the Opposition in the House,
and this responsible post he held until the
downfall of Mr.. Gladstone'S Ministry aud the
accession Of the Salisbury Cabinet in June
1885. lie undoubtedly expected to take
mp again the role of leader for the Govern
ment under the new administration, but
Lord Randolph Churchill had come into
prominence by his violent attacks on Glad
stone, and the element supporting him for
the leadership of the House was too pow
erful for Salisbury to ignore. Iii order to
''shelte' Sir Stafford decently he was
raised to Tire peerage nnder the title of the
Earl of Iddesleigh, and given the Cabinet
Office of First Lord of the Admiralty. IU
Salisbury's second Ministry, last year, the
Earl of Iddesleigl was made Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs. This Office he
held until Lord Randolph ChurchilPs re-
cent resignation from the Cabinet, when
he resigned in order to enable Lord Sails.
bury to form a coalition with the Wings.
Failing in this, Salisbury offered hnn the
Privy Seal, but this he declined, feeling
that he was entitled to his old portfolio.
Lord Iddesleigh was very much chagrined
at the manner in which he was treated,
and he survived his modification but a
few days. The successor TO the Earldom
of Iddesleigh is the Viscount st. Cyres,
who was born in 1916.